and associated materials that could serve as 
pathways for the introduction of invasive 
pests. These products are forbidden entry 
into the United States or are allowed in only 
under very specific conditions. Every year, 
PPQ port personnel intercept tens of thou- 
sands of insects and tons of agricultural con- 
traband and associated material that could 
contain microscopic plant and animal pests 
and diseases. 
PPQ employs more than 120 x-ray machines 
and detector dog teams at more than 20 air- 
ports and 3 land-border ports to increase the 
efficiency of passenger baggage inspections. 
The dog teams, USDA's Beagle Brigade, work 
primarily at international airports and 
selected post offices for baggage and package 
inspection. The beagles’ average success rate 
in finding concealed, regulated items is 90 
percent. Beagle Brigade teams and PPQ offi- 
cers have also become goodwill ambassadors 
for USDA, making speeches and giving 
demonstrations at schools, fairs, and other 
public events. 
PPQ cooperates with the U.S. Department 
of the Interior in carrying out provisions of 
the Endangered Species Act that forbid the 
import or export of endangered plant 
species. PPQ officers at ports of entry are 
trained to identify these plant species and 
take appropriate action. 
PPQ officers also inspect and sample seed 
imported from foreign countries to ensure 
that it is accurately labeled and free of nox- 
ious weeds. International garbage and ship 
and airline stores must be inspected as well, 
to ensure that they are treated with special 
care and according to regulations so no plant 
or animal pests and diseases accidentally 
enter the United States. PPQ also inspects 
and supervises the cleaning of all military 
equipment and troop supplies when the U.S. 
military returns from missions out of the 
country. (The household goods of military 
and civilian personnel moving back stateside 
are also subject to inspection.) 
All prohibited items seized from inspections 
are examined, rendered harmless, and dis- 
posed of by incineration, grinding, or burial. 
Large shipments of agricultural goods found 
to be ineligible for entry may be subject to 
treatment, returned to the country of origin, 
or turned over to PPQ officers for destruc- 
tion. At large airports like John F. Kennedy 
International Airport in New York, seaports 
like Miami, and land-border ports like San 
Ysidro, CA, PPQ operates around the clock. 
Congress has authorized PPQ to collect user 
fees to cover the costs of providing certain 
services under the AQI program. 
Phytosanitary Issues Management 
While safeguarding American agriculture, 
it is also the goal of PPQ to ensure the free 
flow of agricultural trade between the 
United States and other nations. PPQ’s 
Phytosanitary Issues Management (PIM) 
team has primary responsibility for planning, 
coordinating, and helping to resolve phy- 
tosanitary and biotechnology issues that 
impede trade. This work is accomplished 
through developing and harmonizing inter- 
national standards, agency policies, and for- 
eign and domestic quarantines that deal with 
the movement of plants, plant products, and 
soil. The PIM staff also makes science-based 
risk-management decisions on petitions 
from foreign trade partners who want to 
export regulated articles to the United 
States. 
The PIM team is the primary USDA resource 
for addressing science-based phytosanitary 
concerns affecting agricultural trade. The 
PIM staff provides authoritative technical 
expertise for interpreting the intent and 
applicability of plant health requirements. 
Such interpretations are provided in 
response to inquiries from Federal, State, 
international, and territorial officials, private 
industry, and the public. In addition, PIM 
employees consult and advise U.S. agricul- 
tural attachés and plant protection officials 
aS Pim as 
Every year, PPQ port 
personnel intercept 
tens of thousands 
of insects and tons 
of agricultural 
contraband and 
associated material 
that could contain 
microscopic plant 
and animal pests 
and diseases. 
Protecting Plant Health in a Global Environment 3 
